Etienne ghirardi



(No Model.)

E. GHIRARDI. GAR COUPLING.

No. 410,755. Patented Sept. 10, 1889.

I gmpher: Washmglou. n, c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ETIENNE GHIRARDI, OF HOUMA, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HENRY C.MINOR, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 410,755, datedSeptember 10, 1889.

Application filed July 18, 1889. Serial No. 317,937- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ETIENNE GHIRARDI, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ho uma, in the parish of Terre Bonne and State of Louisiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplers; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in couplers for fiat orplatform oars, its objects being to provide for operating the couplerwithout entering between the cars for the purpos e, as more fullyhereinafter specified. These objects are accomplished by the meansillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents aside elevation of a car, showing my coupler applied thereto; and Fig. 2,an end view of the same.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the body or platform of a car,and B the draw or coupler head, which may be of the ordinaryconstruction.

0 indicates a hanger secured below the platform to one side of thelongitudinal central line thereof, as shown in Fig.2. The said hanger isslotted and in said slot is fulcrumed a bent lever D, the forward end ofwhich is bifurcated and sets directly under the lower coupling-pinopening in the draw-head.

E indicates the coupling-pin, which rests normally in its seat, asshown, its lower end being pivoted in the recess at the bifurcated endof the bent lever before mentioned, so that it will move with saidlever. To the rear end of the lever is pivoted the lower end of avertical rod E, which moves vertically through a bearing in theplatform, the upper end of said car being pivoted with a ring G or otherdevice by means of which it may be elevated.

H indicates aspiral spring surrounding the rod below the platform andbearing against said platform and a pin L passing through the rod, so asto hold the parts normally in a closed position, as shown in thedrawings.

The parts of the device being in the position shown, to change them toan open position or position for uncoupling it is only necessary to liftthe vertical rod, which will withdraw the pin sufficiently from its seatto release the coupling-link. The parts are slosed automatically by theaction of the spring when the vertical road is released.

As constructed it will be perceived that the parts of the device are fewin number, simple and inexpensive in construction, and not liable to getout of order, while they may be effectually operated without theslightest danger to the operator.

1 Having described my invention, what I claim is- In a car-coupler, thecombination, with the draw-head and coupling-pin thereof, of thebifurcated bent lever fulcrumed in a hanger secured to the lower part ofthe platform and having the lower end of the couplingpin attached to itsbifurcated end, the vertical rod pivoted to the opposite end of saidlever and extending upward through a bearing in the platform, and thespiral spring bearing against the platform and a pin passing through therod, whereby the parts are automatically returned and held in normalposition, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ETIENNE GHIRARDI.

WVitnesses:

F. L. BROWNE, E. L. WHITE.

